Free vs Paid Show Jumping Course Design Software (2026)
Most UK instructors, club designers and yard coaches do not need every feature in a brochure. They need a free show jumping course designer that is honest: full 2D placement, live related distances, British Showjumping or FEI checks, and a plan they can print. Paid tiers should buy specific outcomes — clean PDFs, 3D/AR, higher limits, teams — not unlock the canvas itself.
This guide is a category buyer checklist (no competitor brand lists). For the wider UK software picture, see best show jumping course design software UK. For the product surface, use the course design software page or open the free designer.
What “free” must include to be useful
If free software fails any of these, you will rebuild poles on the day:
- Scaled arena — metres on a plan, not a sketch photo.
- Stride / related-distance calculator on the ridden track (including combinations and bending lines).
- Rule validation for the standard you jump — typically British Showjumping and/or FEI, not only generic heights.
- Export — at least a usable PDF pack (even if watermarked): master, athlete, builder and judge roles when possible.
YardForge Free is built around that bar: full 2D designer, strides, FEI/BS/Hunter/Unaffiliated validation, and watermarked multi-role PDFs. During alpha every Pro feature is unlocked free; after alpha the Free course cap applies while validation and design stay on Free. Planning aid only — not official FEI or British Showjumping software.
Free is enough when…
- You design for Pony Club, riding club or home schooling nights
- Watermarked PDFs are acceptable for internal builders and pupils
- You can work within a modest saved-course limit
- You will walk the course on foot rather than demo it in 3D for clients
Related reading: course design for Pony Club and riding clubs · how to design a show jumping course · UK course design guide.
Paid (or higher tier) is worth it when…
| Need | Why free often stops here | |------|---------------------------| | Clean / unbranded PDFs | Officials and external contractors expect logo-free master and judge packs | | 3D walk-through | Clients and riders preview lines before the build | | AR in a real arena | Place the track at full scale on a supported phone before poles move | | High course volume | Schools and freelancers keep dozens of layouts | | Teams / multi-user | Several designers share inventory and venues |
On YardForge those map to Pro (clean PDF, 3D, AR, higher course limits) and School & Venue (unlimited courses, teams). See pricing.
Free vs paid checklist
| Check | Free path | Paid path | |-------|-----------|-----------| | BS + FEI live validation | Required on free if you claim “rules” | Same tables — do not pay only for warnings | | Multi-role PDF | Watermarked OK for clubs | Clean exports for show secretaries | | Mobile / browser | Prefer PWA at the collecting ring | Same, plus 3D/AR on device | | Offline | Shell + local save at least | Full offline multi-device sync (rare) | | Yard ops | Nice if designer + yard share a login | School seats if staff share accounts |
Browser free tools vs desktop paid installs
Browser / free-first tools win when volunteers design on a phone between classes. Desktop paid tools still win for deep offline editing and legacy file import. Choose the shape your team opens weekly — then check BS tables and PDF roles, not marketing slogans. More on this split in the best UK software guide.
How to decide in fifteen minutes
- Open a free designer and rebuild last week’s double.
- Switch standard to BS or FEI and see what validation catches (FEI vs BS guide).
- Export a PDF pack — is a watermark acceptable for your next show?
- Only then test 3D/AR or clean PDF if those are real weekly needs.
- Use the stride calculator for a single related distance without building a full course.
Next steps
- Product overview: show jumping course design software
- Course plans: show jumping course plan PDF
- Step-by-step: UK course design guide
- Distances: show jumping distances explained · stride calculator how-to
Pick free when free is real. Pay when a paid feature removes a weekly cost (rebuild time, unclear plans, or client walk-throughs) — not because a trial countdown expired.
